Indian Eagle Owl hit by speeding vehicle, rescued

Junnar [Maharashtra], Dec 1 (ANI): An Indian Eagle Owl was rescued after it was hit by a speeding vehicle in Junnar. The bird was later released back into the wild after it was declared fit by veterinarian.
The Indian Eagle Owl was saved by a passer-by who found the bird lying on the road. He immediately contacted the Wildlife SOS team operating out of the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar. The distressed owl was immediately taken to the NGO's recovery facility where it was treated for injuries. After keeping it in close observation for two days, the bird was released in a forest near Rajur village, Junnar, a press release from the NGO said.
"The owl was placed under mandated medical observation to ensure that it recuperated safely from the ordeal. Thankfully the bird had sustained only minor injuries and we are glad to see it return to its natural habitat," the press release quoted Dr. Deshmukh, Senior Veterinarian at the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre.
The Indian Eagle Owl (Bubo bengalensis) also called the Bengal eagle-owl or Great Horned Owl, a species of the large horned owl found in the Indian Subcontinent. They can be distinguished by their characteristic false feather ear tufts. These birds are a protected species.
"We are glad to see that more and more people are making a conscious decision to help out animals in distress. It is not uncommon for us to receive rescue calls where an unsuspecting animal has been injured due to negligent or rash driving. Such accidents not only put the life of the animal at risk but also pose a threat to the safety of the people driving the vehicle," said Kartick Satyanarayan of Wildlife SOS. (ANI)